‘Time Is Not on Russia’s Side’ [on Ukraine]
By David French, Opinion Columnist, The New York Times , Feb. 26, 2026, 5:06 a.m. ET Credit... [image by George Douglas ] You’re reading the David French newsletter. Reflections on law and culture, war and peace, and the deeper trends that define and divide America. Get it sent to your inbox. Four long years. That’s how long Ukraine has been fighting for its life against Russia. The sheer scale and ferocity of the conflict is hard for us to comprehend. Russia has lost a staggering number of men. The Economist estimates that total Russian casualties number between 1.1 and 1.4 million . Between 230,000 and 430,000 Russians have died. That’s one in 25 Russian men between the ages of 18 and 49 who’ve probably been killed or seriously wounded since the war began. Ukrainian losses have been far less severe in absolute numbers, but worse as a percentage of the population. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimates that Ukraine h...